South Indian Style Chicken Curry with Shallots

Manju Malhi’s South Indian Style Chicken Curry with Shallots is a fiery curry which is softened by the sweetness of the shallots and the coconut milk.

Shallots do not need to be cooked thoroughly like onions and lend themselves extremely well to Indian spices. With each serving at just 302 calories this recipe is the perfect alternative to that unhealthy takeaway.

Serves 4

Preparation time: 25 minutes

Cooking time: 25 minutes

You’ll need:

3 green finger chillies, roughly chopped

½ tsp turmeric

½ tsp ground coriander

¼ tsp ground cinnamon

2 tsp root ginger, peeled and finely grated

4 garlic cloves, roughly chopped

½ tsp salt

10 shallots, topped, tailed and cut in half

4 tbsp sunflower or groundnut oil

6-10 curry leaves

2-4 cloves

500g boneless and skinless chicken breasts, cut into 4cm pieces

200ml coconut milk

Plain basmati rice, to serve

What to do:

In a blender or with a pestle and mortar, blitz the chillies, turmeric, coriander, cinnamon, ginger, garlic, salt and two shallots with 1 tbsp of the oil and 2 tbsp cold water to make a coarse to medium paste.

In a bowl combine the chicken and the spice paste so all the chicken pieces are coated, allow to marinade for 20 minutes or longer if possible.

Heat the remaining oil in a heavy-based pan. Add the curry leaves and cloves and fry for a minute. Then add the chicken and fry for 5 minutes until the spices become fragrant (leave the remaining paste in the bowl for later).

Tip in the remaining shallots and continue frying for 10-12 minutes until they are lightly brown on the outside. Pour 100ml cold water and the coconut milk in the bowl with the remaining spice paste and combine.

Pour over the chicken and mix well. Simmer for 5-7 minutes until the chicken is cooked.

Serve hot with plain basmati rice.

This recipe is suitable for people who are aiming to cut down on fat, saturated fat and calories in their diet e.g. people who generally wish to eat more healthily.

Make sure you use a reduced fat coconut milk to keep the fat and saturated fat levels down

Mother of three grown-up daughters I am the ultimate multi-tasker and am passionate about my role as Silversurfers Website Editor and Social Media Manager. Always on the lookout for all things that will interest and entertain our community. Fuelling fun for the young at heart!

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